Envelope making machine



May 22, 1956 o. P. WELSH ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 28, 1950 1N VEN TOR.

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ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 195o 4 sheets-sheet 2 v D A M. M/ E p 2&7 ...1 inw ,mv W )[.mf by lmr w Kwis. ww

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May 22, 1956 o. P. WELSH 2,746,364

ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE Filed DeC. 28, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l l l l May 22, 1955 o. P. WELSH ENVELOPE MAKING vMACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 28, 1950 2,746,364 ENVELGPE MAKING MACHINE Grmonde P. Weish, l/liinneapolis,` Minn., assignor totlarten Machinery Company Minneapolis, Minn., a partd nership Application DecemherZS; 1950 SeralNo. 203,101

14 Claims. (Cl. 93-62) This invention relates to envelope making machines, and-concerns particularly such machines of the high speed automatic type.

In the manufacture of envelopes, cost considerations make high speed operation desirable; and such high speed operation, in general, presents problems in the handling of the envelope blanks. Difficulties'. are presented in ef* fecting the accurate feeding of thezblanks-into and through the machine, and in effectingv the various folding and gluing operationsthereon with unvarying accuracy.

it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved envelope making machine; and more specifically stated, to provide an improved envelope making machine of the high speed automaticV type;

A- further object of the invention is to provide an improved envelope making machine, of the foregoing type, wherein the blanks are fed through the machine. more positively, and wherein the various operations performed thereon are more positively controlled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a high speed automatic envelope making machine wherein the envelope blanks are at all timespositively controlled to preclude misalignment or hiatus in thev feed; wherein they move in a continuous unimpeded flow through the machine; and wherein the various folding mechanisms are morehigh speed in character and incorporate a minimum of reciprocating machinery and like inertia. parta.

Various other objects of the invention, and the. advantages and features of the machine will be apparent from the following specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is set forth for purposes of illustration.

ln the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a general assembly'view, in side elevation and section, and somewhatdiagrammatic. in-form, of the right end section or portion of an envelopemachine constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig.l 1, illustrating the central section of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a similar ViewA showing the leftfend of the machine, FigsV 1,2 and 3 collectively illustrating the complete machine;

Fig. 4 is an enlargeddetail view of the mechanism for folding the bottom of the blank;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View of one of the holder clips forming a part of the feeding and reversing, section of the machine;

Fig. 6is an enlarged detail view of the mechanism for folding the seal flap; and

Fig.` 7 is a schematicview; showingthe envelope` blanks in their various stages of movement through the machine.

Referring more specifically tothe drawings, and 'rst to the' mechanisms illustrated in Figs; 1;, 2- and 3; it` will be ICC seen that the' structure comprises, in general, the following machine sections:

Envelope blank feeding mechanism illustrated at A; A blank timing section illustrated at B;

A blank gathering section C;

A seal flap gluing section D;

A separating section E;

A drying section F;

A separating section G;

A retiming section H;

A blank scoring section I;

A blank side folding section l;

A side or bottom gluing section K;

A bottom ap folding section L;

A reversing feed section M;

A seal ap folding section N, and

A stacking section O for the completed envelopes.

Section A The envelope blank feeding mechanism or section A of the machine is more specifically set forth and described in my copending application entitled Envelope Blank Feeding Mechanism, SerialNo. 203,266, filed December 29, 1950', now U'. S. Patent No. 2,709,081. It comprises a table 10 upon which a stack oftenvelope blanks 12 is arranged, asfshown in Fig. l, the table having a forward sloping inclination ofapproximately l0-l5, and the blanks being gravity urged by the inclination of the table forwardly orto the right as seen in Fig. 1. The leftward or rearward position ofthe stack i's accessible to the operator, at all times, so that additional blanks may be added' to the stack, as required. The disposition of the blanks in the position which they assume on the hopper or feeding table 10 is shown at A in Fig. 7, wherein it will be seen that the blanks are in superposed stacked relation with their seal flaps 14uppermost, their side flaps 16 and 18 extending laterally, and the bottom flaps 20 projected downwardly between the holding and. guide bars 22 forming a part of the hopper structure.

As more particularly set, forth in said companion application, a rotary suction wheelv 24 andl a reciprocating suction block` 26 are provided in combination, for feeding the blanks, one by one from the forward end of the stack, in a downward direction. More particularly, the suction block 26 moves upwardly with the suction applied thereto, lifting the foremost blank 12 upwardly slightly to release it from the holding lingers 22, whereupon the suction in block 26 is released and substantially simultaneously the suction` is appliedY to the active port of the suction feed wheel' 24, causing the envelope blank to adhere thereto and be moved in a downward direction. The downward feeding of each blank is started prior to the time thatthe trailingV edge of the preceding blank clears the stack so that'v the blanks are maintained in overlappedl relation as they are fed from the stack and pass through the feed" belts presently to be described.

As will be understood, the air suction is applied to the feeding members 24 and 26 and released therefrom, in proper timed relation, by suitable rotary valves;

As the blank,14 is moved downwardly it becomes engaged between laterally spaced endless belts 28, disposed laterally on opposite sidesofthe feed wheel 24, said belts being` operable around feed rolls 30 andf32, and suitable idler pulleys as indicated at 34, 36 and 33. Cooperating. with belts 28.there is a pair of belts 40 also operable around the feed rolls 30 and' 32, and guide rolls 42 and 44, the blanks being. clamped. between the belts and: fed thereby onto the surface of a tablestructure 46.

Section B Asbest shown'in-Figs; l and 7', the timing section illus trated' at' Bv comprises a pairl of spaced" chains 48 driven ars'uitabl'e' speed; passing'afound the feed m11 32 and the lower of a pair of feed rolls '50.' The chains 48 are provided with spaced lugs 52 engageable with the envelope blanks to effect the propulsion thereof.

It will be seen that the timing section effects the spacing of the blanks at accurately predetermined intervals, while maintaining the overlapped-relation thereof.

Section ,C l

From the timing section' B the blanks pass to the gathering section C which comprises a suction gathering and feed wheel S4 and a cooperating pressure roll 56. As in the case of the feed wheel' 24, the suction gathering wheel 54 is provided with Asuction ports operative to grip the blanks and propel them in a manner so that as they leave the gathering'section they are disposed in more closelyoverlapped relation as indicated at C in Fig. 7. A pair of ,spaced belts 58 is arranged around the feed wheel S4 in amanner so as not to interfere with the functioning of the suction ports thereof, and around Vone of a pair of cooperative feed rolls 6G, whereby to propel the blanks from the gathering section C to the ap gluing section D of the machine.

Section D The seal iiap gluing mechanism comprises an adhesive or glue reservoir 62 having an adhesive pickup roll 64, a wiper and distributing roll 66 and a transfer roll 68 associated therewith, operative to transmit a glue film to a glue roll 70. This roll applies a patch of glue to the upper portion of the seal tlaps of the blanks, as indicated in Fig. 7 at 72, the area of the applied patch being determined by the degree of overlap between the blanks.

A pressure roll 74 cooperates with the glue roll 70 to back up the glue roll and hold the envelope blanks thereagainst.

Section E The drying section is yelongated and extends along the bottom of the machine substantially throughout the entire length thereof. It comprises a pair of spaced upper feed belts 80, and a pair of lower feed belts 82, the r latter being provided with rubber blocks as shown at 84 in Figs. 1 and 7 engageable against the undersides of the blanks on the opposite sides of the glued areas.

A series of weighted rollers 86, Figs. 1-3, engages the upper belts 80 at spaced intervals so as to hold the belts Afirmly in engagement with the upper faces of the blanks,

whereby the blanks are positively gripped between the belts 80 and the upper blocks 84 of the belts 82 to effect the positive and accurate feeding thereof.

The drying section is provided with a series of heating devices 88 such, for example, as infra-red lamps or the like, the rays of the heating elements being projected upwardly against the downwardly facing glued surfaces of the blanks to effect the drying thereof as the blanks are propelled through'the drying Vsection of the machine.

` A pair of feed"beltsf90, Figll, cooperate with the `in-feed portion's'of the V beltsY 80 to deliver themblanks to the drying section, and pairs of cooperative feed belts 92 and 94, Fig.V 3, are operative to propel the blanks from the drying section to theseparatin'g 4section vG, now to be described. It will be understood, as the blanks are delivered from'the'drying section the applied adhesive to form the seal flaps has been dried by the progressive action of the drying section heating elements. Due to the close overlap of the blanks Within the drying section, the blanks move therethrough relatively slowly.

Section G The separating section G comprises two pairs of cooperative feed rolls 96 and 98, the upper roll of each pair being provided with rubber blocks as indicated at 100 operable to grip and propel the blanks. The driven speed of these rolls is such that the blanks are completely separated, for the rst time in the machine, as they leave these rolls and are propelled into the retiming section H.

Section H Section I The scoring section comprises aY pair of `scoring rolls 10S, Figs. 3 and 7, for applying the longitudinal score lines for the side fiaps 16 and 18, and a score roll 110 for applying the transverse score lines for the seal flap 14 and the bottom flap 20. The score rolls are backed by cooperating backup or pressure rolls 112 and 114. A pair of feed rolls 116 cooperates with the scoring rolls to impart a positive feeding movement to the blanks as they are propelled through the scoring section of the machine.

Section J From the scoring section the blanks are transmitted to the side folding section I at which the side flaps of the blanks are folded over onto the blank bodies, as shown in Figs. 3, 2 and 7.

More particularly, the blanks are first transmitted between a pair of feed rolls 118 having respectively associated therewith feed belts 120 and 122, the latter preferably being of the chain type as indicated at 124 whereby their speed of operation is accurately correlated with that of the feed rolls 118. A series of pressure rolls as indicated at 126 engages against the inner face of the belt 120, so as to urge the envelope blanks firmly into engagement with the surfaces of belts 122.

The folding of the side flaps is effected by a pair of twisted side belts 128 and 130, these belts being engageable under the side flaps as shown in Fig. 7, and the twisted reaches thereof being operable to turn the side flaps upwardly and over onto the blank bodies. The belts are journalled at their receiving ends upon a vpair of rolls 132 and 134, respectively, and at their delivery ends upon a roll 136 which also acts in cooperation with the roll 138, Fig. 2, as a pressure creasing roll for creasing and pressing the side tiaps permanently into position.

Section KV Yof transfer rolls 146 which receive the glue or other adhesive from a supply roll 148 operable within the glue reservoir 150. A wiper roll 152 operates to properly distribute the glue on the supply roll, as will be understood.

Obviously the glue may be applied either to the bottom flap Ztl, or to the side flaps 16 and 18, or to both, as may be desired.

SectonL From the glue section the blanks are transmitted to mechanism designated at L, wherein the bottom flap 2li is folded over onto the side flaps.

The blanks are transmitted from the glue roll, by a pair of feed rolls 154` to a suction wheel 156 and cooperative pressure roller 158, also having a suction port as indicated at 159. The suction port of roll 156 engages the blank body, substantially at the point indicated at 160, Fig. 7, and port 159 of roll 158 engages the bottom flap momentarily atthe point 161, whereby the forwardly projecting bottom flap is projected over an abutment 162, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and is thereafter drawn downwardly between said abutment and the surface of the suction wheel, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, so as to be' drawn between the suction wheel and a cooperative pressure roll 164, which creases and presses the bottom flap firmly into position.

It will be noted that thisoperation occurs without disturbing or varying the continuous progress of the blanks.

Section4 M From the bottom liap folding mechanism the blanks are delivered to a reversing feed section of the machine, as designated at M, wherein the travel of the blanks is reversed so that the heretofore trailing seal ilap is caused to assume the leading position of the blank.

More particularly, the blanks are delivered to a pair of feed rolls 166 and 168, the latter of which has connected therewith an endless belt or chain 170 carrying a series of spring pressed holding clips 172, the details of which are shown in Fig. 5.

Each holding Vclip is provided with a ixed clamping jaw 174' and a cooperative pivoted clampingv jaw 176, the latter being normally spring urged by.v a spring 178 into engagement with the fixed jaw whereby to clampingly grip the envelope blank.

Fixed cams 180 and 182 are arranged to engage an abutment 184 formed on each pivoted jaw 176, whereby the jaws are momentarily openedy as the cams are engaged. Cam 180 opens the jaws as the blanks are projected therebetween from the feed rolls 166--168, after which the blank is gripped and carried by the clip until cam 182 is engaged whereupon the clip jaws are again momentarily opened to release the blank.

At the instant that the-blank is released it is engaged by a pair of upstanding pins 186 carried by chains 188, Figs. 2 and 5, traveling in the opposite direction in respect to the direction of movement of belt 170 and disposed laterally on either side thereof, whereby the direction of travel of the blanks is reversed, the blanks being caused to move to the right as seen in Figs. 2 and 5, with the seal flap portions thereof in the forward or leading position.

Section N From the reversing feed section the blanks are transmitted to a pair of feed rolls 190 and 192, Figs. 2 and 6, formed as a pair of suction rolls, and operable respectively to grip the seal flap and the blank body, there being associated therewith a folding abutment member 194 which functions to fold and crease the seal flap 14 (the adhesive of which is dry) into position in the same manner as heretofore described in reference to the bottom flap 20. The folding and creasing of the seal flap is completed by the action of a presser roll 196 substantially similar to the presser roll 164 in the instance of the bottom flap, `as previously set forth.

Section 0 The stacking mechanism for completed envelopes, as indicated at O, is of the type more particularly described in my companion application, Envelope Stacking Mechanism, Serial No. 203,267, tiled December 29, 1950, now U. S. Patent No. 2,702,190.

This stacking mechanism comprises a pair of feed rolls 198 and 200 operable to receive the blanks from the rolls 192, 196, rolls 198-200 operating toproject the envelopes between a pair of receiving plates as indicated at 202 and 204.

As more particularly pointed out in said companion application, these receiving plates are moved toward and away from each other, in timed relation, as each, envelope is received; and a swinging tucking arm 206 pivoted at 208 is provided for positioning each envelope as it is received between the plates.

A table 210 is associated with the lower plate 202, as an extension thereof, the envelopes thus being projected along the sliding table against an abutment block 212, from which table the completed envelopes may be removed, in groups, by the operator.

It will be noted that the delivery table 210 is closely adjacent the infeed hopper 10, of the machine, so that one operator may readily supply the blanks to the supply hopper and also remove the completed envelopes from the delivery table.

It will-be seen that the machine provides a high speed automatic mechanism wherein the blanks are continuously transmitted, whilebeing positively controlled. The suction control devices provide for the accurate feeding and movement of the blanks, in cooperation with the timing sections, which insure the proper operation of the gluing and folding mechanisms.v The side and bottom ap folding is elfected while the blanks are moving forwardly in continuous progression, and after reversing, the seal flap is folded in a similar manner.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specic embodiment set forth without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention is accordingly not to be limited to the particular structures shown and described, but only as indicated in the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. An envelope making machine comprising a supply hopper for envelope blanks, means for feeding the blanks from the hopper in predetermined overlapped relation, seal flap gluing means, and transfer means for transferring the blanks from the feeding means to the gluing means, said transfer means including means for maintaining the blanks in said predetermined overlapped relation, and means in advance of said seal flap gluing means for gathering the blanks toward each other to reduce the spacing thereof. I v

V2. An envelope making machine comprising a supply hopper for envelope blanks, means for feeding the blanks from the hopper, seal flap gluing means, transfer means for transferring the blanks from the feeding means to the gluing means, said transfer means comprising an endless band feeding member and feeding lugs on said endless band in predetermined spaced relation for adjusting the blanks in predetermined overlapped relation.

3. An envelope making machine comprising a supply hopper for envelope blanks, means for feeding the blanks from the hopper, seal flap gluing means, and transfer means for transferring the blanks from the feeding means to the gluing means and for maintaining said blanks in predetermined overlapped relation, said transfer means comprising a vacuum gathering wheel for reducing the spacing of the blanks at a predetermined point in their path of travel.

4. An envelope making machine comprising a supply hopper for envelope blanks, means for feeding the blanks from the hopper, said means comprising a vacuum feeding wheel for feeding the blanks from the hopper in predetermined timed and overlapped relation, seal ilap gluing means, and transfer means for transferring the blanks from the feeding means to the gluing means and for maintaining said blanks in said pretermined overlapped relation, said transfer means including a vacuum gathering wheel for reducing the spacing of the blanks.

5. In an envelope making machine having a supply hopper for blanks, seal ap gluing means to which the blanks are transmitted from the hopper, drying means to which the blanks are transmitted from the gluing means, and blank folding means, the combination of transfer means for transferring the blanks from the drying means to the folding means, said transfer means comprising rst and second pairs of feed rolls with at least one of said rolls having a radially projecting friction block intermittently cooperable with another roll for feeding and separating the blanks, and an endless conveyor operatable around sprocket means axially aligned with one roll of said second pair having spaced feeding lugs for transmitting the blanks to the folding means in -predetermined spaced relation.

6. 1n an envelope making machine having a supply hopper for envelope blanks, and side flap folding means to which the blanks are fed from the supply hopper, a suction wheel having a suction port engageable with the body of the blanks with a ap extending forwardly therefrom, means disposed adjacent to but spaced from the periphery of said suction wheel for engaging and partially folding said last named ap as a blank is carried around the suction wheel, and a presser wheel cooperable with said suction wheel and engageable with the flap for completely folding it onto the blank body.

7. An envelope making machine comprising a supply hopper for envelope blanks, side ap folding means, bottom ilap folding means, means for transmitting the envelope blanks to the side flap folding means and the bottom flap folding means from the supply hopper with the bottom flap forming the leading edge, coacting blank feeding means relatively arranged to reverse the position of the leading and trailing edges of the blanks to arrange the seal ap as the leading edge prior to folding the seal ilap, and seal flap folding means for receiving the blanks from said reversing means.

8. An envelope making machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said reversing means comprises a pair of endless conveyors operable in opposite directions.

9. An envelope making machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said reversing means comprises a pair of endless conveyors operable in opposite directions, one of said conveyors being provided with spaced blank grippers thereon.

10. An envelope making machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said reversing means comprises a pair of endless conveyors operable in opposite directions, one of said conveyors being provided with spaced blank grippers thereon, and the other of said conveyors being provided with spaced abutments thereon for receiving the blanks from the grippers.

11. ln an envelope making machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said side ap folding means includes a pair -of endless bands having twisted reaches engageable with ,the side flaps of the blanks, and said bottom aps and seal flap folding means each includes a suction Wheel for gripping the blank bodies with the bottom or seal tlap freely extending forwardly and a presser wheel cooperable with said suction wheel for folding said bottom and seal flaps onto the blank bodies. Y

12. In an envelope making machine having a supply hopper for envelope blanks, side flap folding means, bottom ap folding means, and means for transmitting the blanks successively from a supply hopper to each of said folding 'means, the combination comprising a vacuum suction wheel operable to grip the blanks bodies with the seal flaps freely extending forwardly, and a pressure wheel cooperable with said suction wheel for folding seal flaps of the blanks onto the blank bodies.

13. ln an envelope making machine having a supply hopper for envelope blanks, side ap folding means, and means for transmitting the blanks successively from the Vsupply hopper to said side flap folding means and along a predetermined path of travel, the combination comprising a pair of spaced suction wheels operable to grip the blanks bodies with either the bottom flap or the seal iiap freely extending forwardly, a presser wheel cooperable with one of said suction wheels for folding bottom aps of the blanks, a second presser wheel cooperable with the other' suction wheel for folding seal flaps of the blanks, and means for conveying the blanks from one suction wheel to the other and for reversing the positions of the leading and trailing edges of the blanks.

14. An envelope making machine comprising a supply hopper for envelope blanks, bottom ap folding means, means for transmitting the envelope blanks from the supply hopper to the bottom flap folding means with the bottom flap forming the leading edge, endless motion means for reversing the position of the leading and trailing edges of the blanks to arrange the seal ap in the leading position, and seal flap folding means for receiving the blanks from said reversing means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,580,441 Parks Apr. 13, 1926 1,807,862 Novick June 2, 1931 1,807,863 Novick June 2, 1931 1,883,666 Flintjer Oct. 18, 1932 2,019,946 Winkler et al. Nov. 5, 1935 2,113,555 Novick Apr. 5, 1938 2,119,951 Dunnebier June 7, 1938 2,132,227 Winkler Oct. 4, 1938 2,139,514 Novick Dec. 6, 1938 2,163,037 Heywood June 20, 1939 2,173,171 Labombarde Sept. 19, 1939 2,297,296 Flintjer Sept. 29, 1942 2,312,162 Heywood Feb. 23, 1943 2,612,088 Heywood Sept. 30, 1952 

